Device for cleaning sweet corn



Sept. 30, 1941.

' DEVICE FOR CLEANING SWEET CORN Fi'led Feb. 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l zwzmm/mz q INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

A. MARCHANT 2,257,470

Sept. 30, 1941.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING SWEET CORN Filed Feb. 21; 1938 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L N H W IN VEN TOR.

rromvzm A. MARCH/ANT 2,257,470

Sept. '30, 1941.

A. MARCHANT DEVICE FOR CLEANING SWEET CORN 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 21, 1958 INVENTOR.

v c a I A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 30, 1941'. A. MARCHANT 2,257,470

DEVICE FOR CLEANING SWEET CORN v Filed Feb. 21, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I .fllberi Mgrckani JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 30, 1941.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FQR .CLEAdiING SWEET GORzN Albert Merchant, Storm-Lake, Iowa Application February 21, 1938,?-Serial'Nor19L815 :.1 Claim. 209-114) This invention aims to provide-a simple means for cleaning sweet com, the constructionbeins such that sweet corn and .the cleanings will move in oppositedirections the cleanings being carried by the belt, and novel means being provided for removing cleaningsfrom the belt. The invention aims, further, to provide novel means for imparting step by step movement, slowly, to the belt. A further objector the invention is to provide novel means foroperating the instruid mentalities which clean the belt.

It is within the province of the disclosure. to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects-in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the .scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of their:-

vention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 showsin side elevation, a device-com structed in accordance with the invention;

the shaker frame '3 are connected by end-pieces .9;and the lower bars 6 are connected by similar means. It is shown in Fig. 3 that the forward ends of' the upper bars 4 are-joined together by end pieces If) the forward ends of the lower bars 6 being similarly joined.

Any desired number of eccentric-receiving head or strap structures H (Figs. 3- and are secured to theforward' end pieces H) of the shaker frame *3. --Recip rocation of the shaker frame 3 on the-rollers 2 is securedby a corresponding number of eccentrics [2 (Fig. 3) operating within the head 1 I, but one eccentric and one head-beingshown. The eccentric i2 is secured to a shaft-l4 (Fig. '5) journaled on bearing 'brackets -fi (Fig. 2) attached to the forward Fig. 2 is an elevation inwhich isdisclosed the opposite side of the machine from. that depicted in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is. a vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. l is an end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental top plan;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for imparting operation to the belt.

in the drawings, the numeral I marks a support or main frame of any desired construction. For the purpose of locating relative positions of parts, the front end of the frame I has been marked by the letter A, and the rear end by the letter B.

Supporting rollers (Fig. 3) are journaled in widely spaced relation on the main frame I. On the supporting rollers 2, a shaker frame 3 is mounted for reciprocation at an angle to the horizontal. The shaker frame 3 embodies upper longitudinal bars 4 having inwardly projecting flanges 5, and lower longitudinal bars 6 having inwardly projecting flanges I. The flanges I are the parts that rest immediately on the rollers 2, as shown in Fig. 3. As appears in Fig. 2, the upstanding flange of one of the lower longitudinal bars (5 is cut away to form a side outlet 3, near the lower end of the shaker frame 3. At their rear ends (Fig. 1) the upperbars 4 of rying a pawl 3|.

a ratchet wheel 32 secured to the shaft 23. The

end of the frame I. -Rotation is imparted to the eccentricshaft 14 by a driving mechanism l1 -'-(Figs. 2 and 3),which need not be described in -detailbecause it is of standard construction. The bars 4and 6 of the" shaker frame 3 are connected at the rear end of the machine by first gusset plates 18. A belt tightener It. operates inthegusset plates 1'8. A sha-ft 20 is journ'aled inthe gusset plates l8, and to the shafta roller 2| (Fig. 3) is secured. Figure 1 shows-that the -bars4 and 6 of the shaker frame 3 am 1 connected at the forward end of the machine :by'second-gusset 22. In the gusset plates 22,-a shaft 23 is journaled. The shaft 23 carries a roller 24 (Fig.'3). About the rollers 2;l .land -241 isengaged an endless conveyor belt 25 made of screen material. The upper run of the belt 25 (Fig. 3) rides on the flanges 5 of the bars 4, and the lower run of the screen belt rides on the flanges 1 of the bar 6.

Means is provided for advancing the upper run of the screen belt 25 slowly in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. That means embodies a link 26 (Fig. 2) pivoted at 21, at its upper end, to the frame I. The lower end of the link 26 is pivoted at 28 to one of the lower bars 6 of the shaker frame 3. The link 25 is supplied intermediate its ends with longitudinally spaced openings 29 receiving a pivot element 30 car- The pawl 3i cooperates with ratchet wheel 32 has a lateral rim 33. In Fig. 6 there is shown a block 34 carrying a compression spring 35 which bears on the pawl 3| and constrains it to engage with the ratchet wheel 32. The spring 35 is made operative to exert pressure on the pawl 3|, because the block 34 has an arm 36 engaged at 44 beneath the rim 33 of the ratchet wheel 32. The pawl 3| can swing up and down and cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 32, since the block 34 carries a headed screw 39 or the like, movable in a slot 38 in an angle bracket 31, secured to the pawl 3|.

A lower shaft 40 is journaled on the rear part of the main frame I. The shaft 40 carries a cylindrical brush 4!, shown in Fig. 4. An intermediate shaft 42 is journaled on the rear part of the main frame I and carries a spiral brush 43 shown in Fig. 4. The lower run of the screen belt 25 passes between the brushes 4| and 43, in engagement therewith. An upper shaft 45 is journaled on part of the frame I. are sprocket wheels 46 on the shafts 40 and 42 and a sprocket wheel I46 on, the shaft 45.

About the sprocket wheels 46 is engaged at sprocket chain 47 extended lengthwise of the machine.

M, as shown in Fig. 2.

A conduit or pipe 49 extends crosswise of the machine, closet to but ahead of the brushes 4| and 43, the pipe 49 being disposed between the upper and lower runs of the belt 25. The pipe 49 has nozzles 5i] that discharge down wardly and upon the lower run of the screen belt 25, toward the brushes 4| and 43.

The sweet corn, having beenseparated from the cob and deprived most of its silk, by a known mechanism adapted for thatpurpose, is deposited on the upper run of the belt 25, near the forward end A of the machine. The machine may be made adaptable to handle whole kernel corn, or corn adapted for cream style canning, by substituting belts 25 having meshes of different sizes. The corn flows downwardly and to th right in Fig. 3 on the upper run of the belt 25 when the shaker frame 3 is reciprocated, and runs oil the right hand end of the upper run of the belt 25. Fragments of undesirable material, pieces of silk and the like, adhere to the screen belt 25 and move upwardly with the screen belt, as the screen belt moves slowly in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 3. The undesirable material, adhering still tothe lower run of the screen belt 25, is washed on in part by the nozzles 59 of the pipe 49, but is removed completely by the rotary brushes 43 and 4! of Fig. 3, the spiral brush 43 (Fig. 4) carrying the detached material away, out of the side outlet 3 shown in Fig. 2.

The drives are as follows: The shaft [4 is rotated :by the; mechanism There The sprocket Chain 4] is engaged with a sprocket wheel 48 on the eccentric shaft ratchet wheel 32 and pawl 3|, by way of the link lated by placing the pivot element 30 in any se- 26, the link receiving a swinging motion from' the shaker frame 3, since the link is pivoted to the shaker frame at 28. The throw of the pawl 3| with respect to the ratchet wheel 32 is regulected one of the openings 29 in the link 26. The brushes 4i and 43 receive rotation from the sprocket chain 47 which, passing over the sprocket wheels 46, is driven by the sprocket wheel 48 on the shaft 23.

The machine is of simple construction, but will be found thoroughly efficient to clean sweet corn for any desired kind of canning.

What is claimed is:

r In acorn silking machine, a shaker frame having an opening at one side thereof, an endless conveyer screen carried by said frame and comprising an upper inclined run and a lower return run, means for oscillating said frame and screen to cause kernels of corn deposited on the upper run of the screen togravitate downwardly thereover, means for driving said screen to cause its upper run to move upwardly and carry adhering silks and Waste material therewith, a rotary spiral brush cooperating with the upper surfac of the lower run of said screen for brushing adhering material therefrom. in a lateral direction and for discharging the same through said opening of saidshaker frame, a second rotary brush cooperating with the lower surface of said lower run of the screen for removing foreign matter therefrom and positioned adjacent said spiral brush forcooperation with the same to thereby increase the cleaning action of 'said brushes, means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions, and means adjacent said brushes and lower run of said screen for discharging liquid downwardly through the screen toassist in cleaning the same. Y

ALBERT MARCHANT. 

